“Which guild is this?” I asked.
“This is the only tower in town that doesn’t belong to a guild. It belongs to the Devil.”
“My vampire suspect? How’d he get a guild tower to himself?”
“No one is sure. But he’s had it forever, and no one dares take it from him.”
“If he’s some kind of criminal kingpin, then why doesn’t the local government do anything about it?”
“Do what? He’s more powerful than they are.” She shrugged. “And no one can prove anything. Most believe he just owns a few clubs around town.”
“Does he do really bad stuff? Like human trafficking and murder?”
“Until now, with this murder thing, I haven’t heard of him dealing in anything super evil. Which is why I’m letting you go in there alone. But he’s done bad stuff—mostly dealing in magic, which is carefully regulated by the Council of Guilds. They keep much tighter control on things in here, compared to magical cities in the rest of the world.”
I nodded. “Okay, I can handle a mostly bad vampire kingpin, no problem.” I laughed, low and surprised. “My life has turned insane.”
“It’s always been insane. You just haven’t seen it.”
“Good point.” It’s not like my ability to read objects was new. “Thanks, Mac.”
“Sure thing. If you're not out in an hour, I’m coming in.”
“Don’t risk yourself.”
“I do what I want.” She gave the last word a lilt that made me smile.
I turned and strode across the grass, committed to my plan. He’d seen me at the murder scene—it had been clear in my visions—so trying to trick him wasn’t going to work. I could still be crafty, but I’d be upfront.
And I had these two handy potions, one in me and the other in my pocket.
The two bouncers glared as I approached. Their dark suits were pressed and made of a tough, tactical material. It was a pretty cool look, actually. Not that I got out much to determine what was cool. My only girls’ night out had been a few hours ago when I’d sneaked into the club with the hen party.
Both men were eerily handsome, with powerful builds and an almost animal grace.
“Reason for entry?” the guy on the right asked.
Inspiration struck. “Your boss wants to see me.”
It was true, after all. He’d called me to him.
He raised his wrist and spoke into the charm there, his words low and muffled. After a moment’s pause, he turned, opening the door. “He’s waiting for you.”
Maybe I was imagining the ominous tone to his voice, but I thought not.
The interior of the building was cool, dark, and quiet. The stone floor gleamed with a dark light, like onyx set with stars. The walls themselves were papered in dark velvet, and the lights were sharp and modern.
A slender woman with milk-pale skin and straight dark hair waited for me. Her black dress molded to her form, looking more appropriate for evening than midafternoon.
“Come.” Her voice was smooth and even. “I’m here to take you down.”
She didn’t call my quarry the Devil, and I wondered if his staff called him that or just people like Mac. My heart thundered in my ears as she led me through the only door in the room, which opened into a beautiful nightclub.
The whole place reeked of money and power, with magnificent furnishings and chandeliers that glittered with golden light. The tables were carved of black stone, and the enormous stage was silent. Though there were a few people in the place, they appeared to be speaking quietly.
Having meetings? Magical mob meetings?
Holy crap, what had I gotten myself into?
Fortunately, none of them looked at me, and I kept my head down as I followed the woman. Despite my posture, I made a point to take in all the exits—three—and everyone in the room. If I had to run for it, I wanted to know exactly where I was going and get out fast.
The woman led me through one of the exits, entering a hallway that was simply decorated with dark gray paint and plain light fixtures. As we walked, I grew oddly disoriented.
She turned around and caught my eye. “Don’t worry about how you’re feeling. It’s a spell to make it hard to find your way back in, but it should do no lasting damage.”
“Of course.” I tried to act like that was normal, but it sure as hell wasn’t.
By the time we reached a large door at the end of a hallway, I was completely lost. Even if I did try that freezing potion, I might end up stuck in this hallway forever.
The woman knocked quietly, then waited. I heard nothing, but she nodded to herself and pushed open the door.
Memories of the man in my vision streaked through my head, and my heart began to pound even faster.
I was going to see him.
Holy crap, I was about to walk into the den of a possible murderer. Who could do mind control.
But I had the freezing potion. And I could handle myself.
More importantly, I needed answers if I wanted my life back. And I wanted to see this guy.
I sucked in a deep breath and followed her in.
The first thing that struck me was his stillness. He sprawled elegantly in a chair behind a wide desk, his form so motionless that he could have been carved of ice.
The second thing was his size. His power. Despite the fact that he was sitting, it was clear that he was tall and leanly muscled. He had the tightly leashed power of a large jungle cat, reclined and relaxed…until he pounced. When he did, you’d be dead.
I carefully kept my gaze averted from his, hoping to prevent him from controlling my mind. Still, I managed to get a good look.
His face was cast in shadows, but the parts that I could see were almost too beautiful to be real. He was a predator who lured you with his looks. Slightly long dark hair that gleamed in the light. Strong, sharp jaw, full lips, high cheekbones, and glinting silver eyes. Everything about him was cold, but in a way that heated me up inside.
That connection I’d felt earlier flared to life, tugging me closer. Everything within me sat up and took notice. I wanted to spend hours staring at him, despite the fact that he scared the crap out of me.
No.
Idiot. He might be a murderer. He might be Beatrix’s murderer.
I had a hard time believing it, though. Wouldn’t I feel something if I were looking her murderer in the eye?
Yes. I would.
Still, I was terrified of him. He was a vampire, for God’s sake. Killing was in their DNA, according to the movies I’d seen. I couldn’t count on my gut feeling that I would recognize Beatrix’s murderer when I saw him. That kind of crazy, could get me killed.
I was so not here to get murdered myself, no matter how powerful the magical connection between us.
Because that’s what this had to be—magic.
I’d never lost my mind over a man like this before.
Behind him, someone shifted. Two guards—both huge, hulking men standing against the wall. They had the same leonine look as the guards out front, like they had the souls of animals—lions or panthers or something. I hadn’t noticed them before, but I couldn’t blame myself. The real threat here was the Devil of Darkvale. He was seated and impeccably dressed, but I’d seen enough deadly people in my life to know he was dangerous.
The guards could do the dirty work, sure. But it was the Devil you had to watch out for. He was all tightly leashed power, but when he released it…
He studied me in silence, then raised his hand. The guards melted into the shadows at the edge of the room, disappearing.
“You’ve come to me,” the Devil said, his voice dark and low.
There was a quiet arrogance there—the kind that kings carried. Kings who had gained their power with sweat and blood and charm and knew that they would never suffer defeat because the world was theirs to control.
I swallowed hard, trying to force back that strange combination of attraction and fear.
Please don’t use your mind control. “What do you know about the murder of the man with the dragon tattoo on his neck?”
He tilted his head, the shadows slashing across his face and making him look even more dangerous. He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat.”
And lose the ability to chuck my potion and run? Hell, no. “I’m fine, thanks.”
He rose from his chair, graceful and dangerous, and moved around to the front of his desk. Every bit of me screamed to move, but I held my ground. His gaze flicked to my neck as if he could see my violent heartbeat.
Vampire.
I kept my gaze averted.
Instead of approaching, he leaned against his desk, facing me. There was a good two meters between us, but it felt like a handbreadth. I could detect the barest hint of his magic—the scent of a fire and the sound of thunder—but it was well under control.
Everything about him was well under control but, somehow, I knew…beneath the surface, there was more than ice.
“Did you kill the man in the alley?” I asked, wishing I already had that truth serum.
“No.”
“That’s it? Just…no?”
“Just no.” He strode toward me, his movement impossibly smooth.
My heartbeat thundered as he approached, and my skin chilled. It took everything I had to hold my ground, but I refused to run. There was too much on the line here, and he was an apex predator. I couldn’t show fear, or he would attack.
Even if that wasn’t true, I couldn’t bear to let him know I was afraid.
Instead of coming straight for me, he moved past, so close that I could smell the fire of his scent. Every bit of me tightened as I turned to follow his back with my gaze, and my shoulders relaxed when he went to the sideboard on the other side of the room.
He looked back at me over his shoulder. “Coffee?”
“Um…no.” I wasn’t going to drink a possible murderer’s coffee.
He poured himself a cup, and the wild thought burst into my head that he also drank blood.
But where were his fangs?
My gaze flicked to his mouth, but I saw none. When I looked at his eyes, I realized that he was smiling at me. Not a big smile, but he was definitely amused.